Relentless

Chapter 79 : Ashton

I've never been good at discerning right from wrong. At least, not compared to Celeste. It just always seemed so easy to her. Being a perfectly behaved and polite daughter came to her as natural as breathing to her and so unnatural to me.

But when you are face with a choice, an impossible choice, who is to say what the right decision is?

I made a promise to myself. I can't say whether I will be able to see it through but I decided to make it anyway. I did just the other night.

Little did I know that after that night, I would make a decision that would change my life.

I remember how I struggled to breath. My breath was labored and I felt like I was suffocating but I know I wasn't. I was breathing just fine and I appeared normal. That's just how it felt to have someone inside of you.

Lydia had invading my body, my very mind. I felt like I was suffocating, like a weight was baring down on my chest, not allowing a single full breath.

I wasn't sure what to expect.

Lydia had reclaimed Kane and I as one of her own but I have decided where my true loyalties lie and they aren't with her. If she ever finds out, it would mean my assured death the moment I lose my worth.

I sat slumped against a wall. Lydia released her control over me when we arrived at her underground base and I was physically exhausted. I was completely aware when she was in control but I had no control over anything.

 My strength was slowly returning as the night went on. I held my breath to keep myself from grunting in pain as I finally sat up.

Kane walked by, glancing down at me when he sauntered past, ignoring my obvious discomfort.

"Where do you think you're going?" I snapped.

"That's none of your business." He retorted.

"If I get punished for your disappearance because of your e-boy complex then it is my business."

He rolled his eyes. "Then I'll make sure I'll be back before Lydia notices."

"In case you hadn't noticed, she's been keeping a close eye on both of us because she doesn't trust us so now isn't a good time to sneak off to go report to the Oblivians." I whispered, emphasizing the fact that I know what he is up to.

He head snapped towards me. "Hw do you- doesn't matter. Just don't tell her where I've gone."

"I still don't think it's a good idea. If Lydia finds that you're gone, someone is going to die."

"Doesn't matter what you think. Since when do you care if I live or if I die?

"Again, it isn't about you. I don't want to be the most vulnerable person around when Lydia goes off." I dragged myself to my feet. My face contorted in pain as I suppressed a grunt.

"Get out of my way." Kane growled.

"No." I said firmly, stepping in front of him.

"No." The command echoed in my head. The voice overwhelmed my mind. I lost touch with reality for only a moment but it was enough to let Kane slip past me. When I came to I was laying on the ground.

Lydia peered down at me. Hands on her hips.

"Lydia! Uh, I can explain," I stammered.

"Get up." She commanded and I could tell by her tone that she wouldn't tell me again.

I scrambled to my feet, fear drowning out my pain. I felt ashamed that I wasn't putting up much of a fight but how could I after she was inside my head. She had played with my mind, picked it apart and put it back together again.

She thought she understood me now but she was wrong. Seeing inside my head, my thoughts and memories aren't who I am. They shaped who I was not who I am becoming and who I am becoming is someone that she will soon learn to fear.

That was wishful thinking. The thoughts of naive girl who had no idea what the night would bring.

"Ashton?" Lydia smirked. "Is that a hint a hit of rebelliousness I detect?"

"No," I mumbled, not expecting such a direct question.

She roughly grabbed my collar and pulled me to her eye level, nearly choking me in the process. "Don't lie to me." She said through gritted teeth.

For a moment, only a moment, I saw the glimpse of something in her eye. It made me realize how similar we are. I could see the reflection of Destiny in her eyes. Her actions aren't truly her own either.

It was enough to make my body still with an unexpected calm, even though my feet were barely touching the ground and my windpipe was slowly being cut off.

Lydia threw me to the ground and I coughed trying to catch my breath. I looked back up at her, not daring to stand.

"Don't look at me like that." A hint of unease entered her voice. "Don't act like you suddenly understand me."

"I never said-"

"You didn't have to." Lydia averted her eyes, unable to look at me anymore.

"Don't forget your place." She said with a new-found edge to her tone. "You are just a tool to me, a stepping stone to my goals. You meaning nothing more to me.

"I never thought-"

"It's not like your my sister or anything..."

Ah, and there it was. Finally the truth, I thought to myself.

Destiny made her kill her sister and I remind her of Skylar. It was probably easier for her to push her grief aside before I was around. Maybe that was part of the reason that she was in no hurry for to bring Kane and I back.

I couldn't imagine losing Celeste...

No! What are you doing? Stop sympathizing with her. I owe her nothing.

And just like that, I was back. I finally snapped out of the trance I was in.

"Don't misinterpret what you're worth to me. You're nothing. I can never see my sister again and you don't deserve to yours again either."

It took a moment for her words to sink in and by then it was too late.

She lunged at me.

She knocked me against the wall and clawed at my face.

I screamed from pain and my world went black.

When I came to, I tried to open my eyes but I was met by an unsettling darkness. I created a soft glow in the palm of my hands, not sure of my surroundings but I still couldn't see the small flames. It was only then that the pain in my face hit me like a thousand knives penetrating through my eyes into my skull and I realized that I was blind.

Lydia had taken my vision knowing that I could still detect the presence of others so I wouldn't be totally useless.

My hands shot up to my face. I felt around my eyes. They were still there but my hands came away damp. Tears or blood. I would never know.

"So you're awake."

I startled at Lydia's voice. I had been so absorbed by my pain that I hadn't detected her presence.

I could have sworn I heard her chuckle when she saw me jump.

"Don't worry. You can't tell from your appearance. Besides, I need you to look your best for today."

My throat was dry when I tried to speak. "What is today?"

"You'll see soon enough. Or maybe you won't."

I clenched my fist at my side. I had promised myself that I would see my sister again but I decided to make a new one. I promised to myself that I would be present at Lydia's demise as I feel her body turn cold.